Lead ’26 Proves KD Lekir Crew, Vessel Capability In Challenging International Waters
LUMUT, May 3 (Bernama) -- The Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) participation in the LEKIR Australia Deployment 2026 (LEAD ’26) mission has proven the capability of RMN vessel, KD Lekir and its crew to carry out challenging operations in international waters.
RMN Western Fleet Commander Vice Admiral Datuk Baharudin Wan Md Nor said the successful voyage covering 10,635 nautical miles around the Australian continent without any critical damage demonstrated the resilience and competence of RMN personnel.
“KD Lekir, at 42 years of age, has once again proven to be a robust vessel because in LEAD ’26, KD Lekir successfully completed the circumnavigation of the Australian continent safely without any critical damage,” he said at the KD Lekir Homecoming Ceremony after completing the LEAD ‘26 at the RMN Base here today.
He said KD Lekir safely navigated seven major waters, namely the Java Sea, Timor Sea, Arafura Sea, Coral Sea, Tasman Sea, Great Australian Bight and the Indian Ocean.
According to him, the Great Australian Bight is among the most challenging waters, with wave heights averaging five to seven metres throughout the year, with no shelter and beam sea conditions, where only experienced seafarers can truly understand the difficulty of navigating such waters, last undertaken in 1991.
Baharudin said the mission aimed to strengthen ties with friendly nations within and beyond the region, which forms the third pillar of the strategy outlined in the Defence White Paper.
He said through RMN’s participation in LEAD ’26, the vessel took part in Exercise KAKADU 26 and Exercise MASTEX 26, two major exercises that covered multi-dimensional warfare, including surface warfare, anti-air warfare and anti-submarine warfare.
According to him, the actual operational experience and international exposure gained throughout the mission are crucial in ensuring RMN personnel possess the knowledge, skills and work attitude required to operate high-technology assets.
“In the near future, the RMN will receive five locally built Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) and three Littoral Mission Ships (LMS) from Turkiye, followed by the Multi Role Support Ship (MRSS), which is currently under procurement.
“All these vessels are equipped with advanced and modern technologies, among the best in the region. These ships require personnel who are knowledgeable, skilled, experienced and possess good work attitude,” he added.
Meanwhile, KD Lekir Commanding Officer Commander Megat Mohamad Sofwan Firdaus Megat Mohamad Yunus said rough sea conditions with waves reaching up to seven metres and wind speeds of up to 100 kilometres per hour were among the main challenges faced by personnel during the mission.
He said throughout the voyage, his experience included navigating the Great Barrier Reef and the stretch from Melbourne to Perth near the Great Australian Bight, where they remained for about four days due to bad weather.
“However, the tasks and mission objectives continued, and we successfully navigated the rough seas. For me, there was no issue as we ultimately managed to accomplish the mission well,” he added.
-- BERNAMA
